A Time When Immunity Is Needed... Traditional Korean Medicine Women's Products Gain Popularity

My healthy Yejimiin. Photo by Welcron Healthcare

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As incidents of harmful substances being detected in sanitary pad products occur frequently, consumers seeking so-called 'No Chemical' women's daily necessities are increasing. Especially for products that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin, special caution is needed regarding exposure to chemical components, so products containing herbal medicine ingredients that are gentle on the skin are attracting consumers' attention.

Welcron Healthcare's women's product brand 'Yejimiin' recently launched the 'Healthy My Yejimiin' sanitary pad. It is a herbal care product containing five domestic herbal medicine ingredients derived from Donguibogam, emitting a fragrant oriental herb scent. By signing a business agreement (MOU) with Ganghwa-gun, Incheon City, it became possible to produce 100% domestic ingredients such as 'Ganghwa Sajabal Ssuk,' known to help prevent various gynecological diseases and relieve menstrual pain.

Yejimiin is a brand that started selling functional sanitary pads containing domestic herbal medicine ingredients for the first time in Korea in 2002. After being acquired by Welcron in 2007, it changed its name to Welcron Healthcare in 2012 and currently manufactures and sells women's hygiene products and healthcare products such as sanitary pads, feminine cleansers, and hot packs.

In 2018, to appeal to some consumers who disliked the unique smell of herbal medicine, the brand emphasized the 'pure cotton' image rather than herbal medicine, but recently it has re-established its identity as a herbal brand.

Herbal sanitary pads are also popular overseas. They are sold through online and offline distribution channels (such as Watsons) in 10 countries including the United States, China, and Singapore. The industry analyzes this as a result of the popularity of Korean cosmetics.

A Welcron Healthcare official said, “Amid growing consumer distrust regarding the safety of daily necessities due to the recent detection of harmful substances in famous sanitary pads, products containing 'domestic herbal medicine ingredients' have consistently gained consumer trust. The unique oriental scent of herbal medicine now rather provides trust as a 'No Chemical' product, and the herbal sanitary pad market is expected to grow further in the future.”

The company 'Jilgyungyi,' which holds many natural ingredient products, is also expanding its women's product business. On the 19th, Jilgyungyi announced that it had obtained hygiene approval certifying the hygiene safety of two types of wash-type feminine cleansers, 'Jilgyungyi Daily Ecoa Wash Pure,' from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

According to Jilgyungyi, China's hygiene approval is an essential system for exporting and selling products in China, and without the approval certificate, products cannot be officially cleared through customs. To register, after undergoing hygiene safety testing, an application must be submitted to the NMPA, and the product must pass reviews of ingredients, heavy metals testing, manufacturing procedures, and more. It is said that the procedures and processes are relatively more stringent compared to other countries.

The Daily Ecoa Wash Pure, which obtained hygiene approval, is a mildly acidic feminine cleanser that helps skin health and contains patented feminine cleanser composition ingredients (Patent No. 10-1168225) made from five natural ingredients: green tea, perilla leaf, turmeric root, cnidium root, and angelica root extracts. It also contains 'polyglutamic acid,' a natural moisturizing ingredient fermented from natto, and plant-based preservatives extracted from pasque flower, usnea, and chopi berry, allowing gentle cleansing of sensitive skin.

Choi Wonseok, CEO of Jilgyungyi, said, “Natural ingredient products have been the main contributor to Jilgyungyi's growth as a solid brand. Even if we start other businesses, we will continue to run and further develop the women's product business.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.